A new rat study links cola consumption to oxidative stress and memory impairment. Researchers at the University of Southern Santa Catarina in Brazil made the discovery. According to their research, 67 days of drinking soda increased biological stress markers in the rat brain. In turn, cognitive impairment influenced their behavior. The research was published in the journal Experimental Gerontology .
The research team wanted to investigate how the tail might affect the brains of mice in a controlled laboratory environment. Previous research has found a link between high cola consumption and an increased risk of cognitive decline and disease.
The researchers placed the mice into two groups. One group drank as much soda as they wanted and had water available. The other group only drank water. The team monitored the mice for 67 days and killed them on day 68 to analyze the hippocampus and frontal cortex.
Before killing the mice, the team gave them several maze tests to complete. These tests aimed to identify the differences between the queue and the control group, evaluating their spatial memory and behavior.
Drinking Coke Led to Cognitive Decline in Rats
The queue caused problems memory and cognitive impairment in young rats between two and eight months of age. They scored lower on the maze tests compared to the control group. However, the researchers did not see this effect in the older mice.
After analyzing brain tissue from mice, the researchers found that cola-drinking mice of all ages had higher levels of markers of oxidative stress. The finding suggested that biological changes took place in the rats’ brains. Younger rats were more vulnerable to behavioral changes.
The findings reflected previous investigations, who suggested that cola consumption leads to neurodegenerative and cognitive impairments. Higher levels of oxidative stress had the most pronounced link with an increased risk of dementia.
Researchers had previously found an association between high-sugar diets and cognitive decline. However, the mice that drank cola did not have higher blood glucose levels, suggesting something else caused poor cognition.
One caveat to the study was that the researchers tested it only on male mice. However, male and female rats often react differently to dietary risk factors, including high sugar intake. The research team acknowledged that future experiments must involve both men and women to confirm the findings.
For now, researchers don’t know whether drinking Coke affects humans in the same way. However, many studies have linked soda consumption to adverse health effects. So it’s probably best to limit or drastically avoid sodas and opt for water instead.
Other negative impacts of drinking cola
Drinking cola can cause weight gain. ONE 20 years of study followed 120,000 men and women who increased their consumption of sugary drinks to a 12-ounce drink a day. The researchers found that they gained an average of an additional pound every four years. Other studies have found that sugary drinks increase the risk of childhood obesity. ONE studying found that for every 12 ounces of additional soda that children drank daily, the risk of obesity increased by 60% after 1.5 years of follow-up.
Soft drinks increase the risk of diabetes. One study found that people who consumed one or more sodas a day had a 26% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The threat became more pronounced in young adults and Asians.
Soda increases the chance of a heart attack. A study 20 years old who followed 40 men found that those who consumed an average of one sugary drink a day had a 20% greater risk of having or dying from a heart attack. another study which involved 90,000 women over the age of 20 found similar results. Women who drank more than two servings of sugary drinks a day had a 40% higher risk of heart attack or death from heart disease.
Soft drinks increase the risk of gout. a study of 22 years with 80,000 women found a 75% higher risk of gout in people who consumed one sugary drink a day. The researchers found similar results in men.
Drinking soda can shorten your lifespan. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that people with high intakes of sugary drinks had shorter telomeres on their immune cells. Telomeres help protect the DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes, so shorter telomeres indicate aging and an increased risk of disease.
Cola increases risk of kidney disease or kidney failure. The danger also includes diet sodas. The researchers of Nurses’ Health Study found that women who consumed more than two diet sodas a day had twice the risk of kidney disease. They also had a 30% greater reduction in kidney function than women who didn’t drink soda.
Glue can lead to stained teeth and serious dental problems. a study of 2013 revealed that excessive consumption of soft drinks can lead to methamphetamine-like tooth decay. The researchers found that a woman who drank two liters of diet soda a day for three to five years had tooth decay, similar to a methamphetamine addict. The citric acid in soda can cause tooth enamel to erode, increasing the likelihood of cavities and stained teeth.
Sodas increase risk of colorectal cancer in women under 50. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine found that each additional 8-ounce serving of soda increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 16%. The risk doubled between 13 and 18 years old. In addition, each additional daily serving increases the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer by 32%.
Final Thoughts on Study Showing Soda Causes Brain Health Problems
Please reconsider your daily soda consumption as a result of the above studies. A recent study revealed that drinking colas daily can increase oxidative stress, leading to cognitive decline. While the research only involved mice, human studies have found a link between sugar consumption and dementia. The authors hope to conduct additional studies to confirm their findings.
However, mounting evidence shows the adverse effects of sugar on the mind and body. Drinking soda can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, gout and kidney disease. It can also shorten telomeres, leading to premature death.
Other studies have even found an association between drinking sugary drinks and tooth decay. In fact, even participants who drank diet soda showed enamel erosion for five years. The study demonstrated what doctors have long advised: avoiding sugary drinks and consuming diet drinks occasionally would have a positive impact on health.
By Kristen Lawrence. Article in English
